Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has mentioned on Twitter that “if Steam committed to a permanent 88% revenue share […] without major strings attached, Epic would hastily organise a retreat from exclusives (while honouring our partner commitments) and consider putting our own games on Steam.”
Sweeney has often claimed that the 30% lower Valve takes from every game offered on Steam is among the greatest issues in PC gaming, damning it again as “the #1 problem for PC developers, publishers, and everyone who relies on those businesses for their livelihood. We’re determined to fix it”.
That “no major strings attached” line is attention-grabbing. Pressed for clarification, Sweeney says the key points are that “games can use any online systems like friends and accounts they choose, games are free to interoperate across platforms and stores, the store doesn’t tax revenue on other stores or platforms,” and “if you play on multiple platforms, stuff you’ve bought can be available everywhere.” That’s an terrible lot of small print, and wildly unrealistic.
Perhaps due to these caveats – or maybe simply due to the controversy of Epic’s exclusive-chasing coverage – Sweeney has drawn a good bit of cynicism within the replies.
He is accused of “fake altruism“, with the suggestion that “the 12% nonsense” is a ruse to amass goodwill. It could also be that, and I’m all for wholesome scepticism of companies, however it’s clearly additionally an unlimited discount within the income taken from promoting another person’s work. Other gamers proceed to level out Steam’s superior options and willingness to shoulder regional pricing charges, that are equally simple.
If Steam dedicated to a everlasting 88% income share for all builders and publishers with out main strings hooked up, Epic would swiftly arrange a retreat from exclusives (whereas honoring our associate commitments) and contemplate placing our personal games on Steam.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 25, 2019
While it’s vanishingly unlikely that Valve would ever transfer to a 12% lower – as Sweeney absolutely is aware of – it’s price noting that Epic has (in all probability) already pressured a climbdown. Last yr, Valve introduced that it will lower its 30% cut for each sale after a game earns $10m. It didn’t explicitly point out Epic, however the transfer got here simply three days earlier than the Epic Games Store, with its 12% lower, was formally announced after some hearsay.
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Last month, Sweeney predicted that we’d quickly see decrease costs for games on the Epic Store as builders handed financial savings from their bigger income share on to customers. Seems optimistic to me, with the $60 worth level so firmly established, however fingers crossed, I suppose.
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